Alessandro O Caffò1, Antonella Lopez2, Giuseppina Spano2, Giuseppe Saracino2, Fabrizio Stasolla3, Giuseppe Ciriello2, Ignazio Grattagliano4, Giulio E Lancioni3, Andrea Bosco2. 1. Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Studies of Bari, Via Crisanzio 42, 70122, Bari, Italy. alessandro.caffo@uniba.it. 2. Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Studies of Bari, Via Crisanzio 42, 70122, Bari, Italy. 3. Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Studies of Bari, Bari, Italy. 4. Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Studies of Bari, Bari, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Models of cognitive reserve in aging suggest that individual's life experience (education, working activity, and leisure) can exert a neuroprotective effect against cognitive decline and may represent an important contribution to successful aging. AIM: The objective of the present study is to investigate the role of cognitive reserve, pre-morbid intelligence, age, and education level, in predicting cognitive efficiency in a sample of healthy aged individuals and with probable mild cognitive impairment. METHODS: Two hundred and eight aging participants recruited from the provincial region of Bari (Apulia, Italy) took part in the study. A battery of standardized tests was administered to them to measure cognitive reserve, pre-morbid intelligence, and cognitive efficiency. Protocols for 10 participants were excluded since they did not meet inclusion criteria, and statistical analyses were conducted on data from the remaining 198 participants. A path analysis was used to test the following model: age, education level, and intelligence directly influence cognitive reserve and cognitive efficiency; cognitive reserve mediates the influence of age, education level, and intelligence on cognitive efficiency. RESULTS: Cognitive reserve fully mediates the relationship between pre-morbid intelligence and education level and cognitive efficiency, while age maintains a direct effect on cognitive efficiency. DISCUSSION: Cognitive reserve appears to exert a protective effect regarding cognitive decline in normal and pathological populations, thus masking, at least in the early phases of neurodegeneration, the decline of memory, orientation, attention, language, and reasoning skills. CONCLUSIONS: The assessment of cognitive reserve may represent a useful evaluation supplement in neuropsychological screening protocols of cognitive decline.
BACKGROUND: Models of cognitive reserve in aging suggest that individual's life experience (education, working activity, and leisure) can exert a neuroprotective effect against cognitive decline and may represent an important contribution to successful aging. AIM: The objective of the present study is to investigate the role of cognitive reserve, pre-morbid intelligence, age, and education level, in predicting cognitive efficiency in a sample of healthy aged individuals and with probable mild cognitive impairment. METHODS: Two hundred and eight aging participants recruited from the provincial region of Bari (Apulia, Italy) took part in the study. A battery of standardized tests was administered to them to measure cognitive reserve, pre-morbid intelligence, and cognitive efficiency. Protocols for 10 participants were excluded since they did not meet inclusion criteria, and statistical analyses were conducted on data from the remaining 198 participants. A path analysis was used to test the following model: age, education level, and intelligence directly influence cognitive reserve and cognitive efficiency; cognitive reserve mediates the influence of age, education level, and intelligence on cognitive efficiency. RESULTS: Cognitive reserve fully mediates the relationship between pre-morbid intelligence and education level and cognitive efficiency, while age maintains a direct effect on cognitive efficiency. DISCUSSION: Cognitive reserve appears to exert a protective effect regarding cognitive decline in normal and pathological populations, thus masking, at least in the early phases of neurodegeneration, the decline of memory, orientation, attention, language, and reasoning skills. CONCLUSIONS: The assessment of cognitive reserve may represent a useful evaluation supplement in neuropsychological screening protocols of cognitive decline.
Entities:
Keywords:
Aging; Cognitive reserve; Elderly; Mini-mental state examination; Montreal Cognitive Assessment; Pre-morbid intelligence
Authors: Elvira Khachatryan; Benjamin Wittevrongel; Matej Perovnik; Jos Tournoy; Birgitte Schoenmakers; Marc M Van Hulle Journal: Front Hum Neurosci Date: 2021-07-08 Impact factor: 3.169
Authors: Giuseppina Spano; Alessandro O Caffò; Antonella Lopez; Luca Mallia; Michael Gormley; Marco Innamorati; Fabio Lucidi; Andrea Bosco Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2019-02-21
Authors: Antonella Lopez; Alessandro Germani; Luigi Tinella; Alessandro Oronzo Caffò; Albert Postma; Andrea Bosco Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-01-15 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Maria C Quattropani; Alberto Sardella; Francesca Morgante; Lucia Ricciardi; Angela Alibrandi; Vittorio Lenzo; Antonino Catalano; Giovanni Squadrito; Giorgio Basile Journal: Brain Sci Date: 2021-06-22